Advice on how to handle a difficult math class

[sylvan8798]

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@warbrain

I disagree. I had a lot of trouble with proofs when I first started, and got confused really easily. But last year for example, I got A’s in my 5 proof-based classes. The thing is that math in high school seems to be taught as a series of algorithms and formulas, and there’s little emphasis on understanding and why things work. So when you first encounter proofs, of course it’s going to be hard, you’ve never seen them before. It’s not a big deal, and as you spend more time, you’ll get the hang of it.

And I disagree with this. Some people get the hang of it, others (including myself) never really seem to. There is a certain kind of thinking involved that comes more naturally to some than to others. I know several math professors who absolutely hate the application side and struggle with showing students applications, and others who are application oriented and less geared to the theorem and proof side.</p>

<p>That’s not to say that everyone can discern what their abilities are on the first round. It can take time and advanced material to sort all that out.</p>